FL Attorney General and DOJ take action against Jax Radiology practice for Health Care Fraud

Attorney General Ashley Moody
Press Release
November 23, 2020

Attorney General Ashley Moody today secured an agreement with Mori, Bean and Brooks, P.A., a radiology practice in Jacksonville, to resolve allegations of health care fraud. According to a joint investigation conducted by Attorney General Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, MBB knowingly submitted false claims to the Medicaid program for the interpretation of radiological images that were ineligible for reimbursement. MBB agrees to pay the state of Florida $161,694 to resolve the allegations.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Upholding the integrity of the Medicaid program is imperative. I am proud of the work conducted by our MFCU and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in uncovering this scheme. My office will continue to pursue those who deliberately defraud the Medicaid program.”

According to the joint investigation, from April 27, 2012, through Feb. 5, 2019, MBB billed Medicaid for the interpretation of radiological images outsourced overseas. Medicaid requires teleradiology services to be completed within the U.S. to qualify for reimbursement. MBB cooperated with the U.S. government upon being informed of the investigation.

To read the agreement, click here.

A lawsuit originally filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida by Thomas Heyck spurred the agreement. Heyck is a radiologist previously employed by MBB. Heyck sued under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act granting a private citizen the ability to sue on behalf of the U.S. for false claims and to share in the recovery.

The case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Thomas Heyck v. Mori, Bean and Brooks, P.A, No. 3:18-cv-590-J-39PDB. The False Claims Act also allows the U.S. to intervene and prosecute the action. Heyck will receive 19% of the proceeds from the agreement.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shea Gibbons and Sean Keefe for the Middle District of Florida handled the case.

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Ben Martin
Ben Martin(@ben-martin)
3 years ago

It is interesting that X-Rays are “interpreted.” Does that mean one Doctor can see one thing and another Doctor can see another? Does this mean it is not an exact science? The evaluation of Dental X-Rays for instance can vary widely from one dentist to another.

The fact that Health Professionals receive so much of taxpayer’s money is evidence that they have a good lobby. The public needs to investigate who it is that is funding their elected representatives. The internet makes that easy to do.

The Parkland High School Safety Act allocated $69 Million to health care professionals. How will that money be spent? Who is tracking it.? Will it be used to enrich pharmaceutical companies?

Ben Martin
Ben Martin(@ben-martin)
3 years ago

There is another take away from this article. Shoplifting is a serious crime that will get you jail. Yet some white collar operators enrich themselves tremendously using illegal means and they only get a fine. That exact same thing happens in the world of banking and financial services.